12: Thisphotoof the25 inEl Portal shows themarker
bracketson the rear of the tender alongwithflaghold-
ers for extras and sectionswhen running in reverse.
Twobrakeman lanterns andapair ofmarkers are stored
on thebackwall of thecababove thecanvas curtain. –
FredStoesphoto
.
12
on the log trainsduring theweekas trainsNos. 8and9,would
be run light toMerced formaintenance/inspectionand then
return toMercedFallsonMondaymorningprior to itstime-
tabledeparturetime. SinceAugust 4thwas aFriday, thedis-
patcher coveredall threeextras ina single trainorder (13).
It tookmemanyyears anda coupleof interviewswithYV
employees to learnhow the two locals actuallyoperated. The
13: The dispatcher issued train order 2 to the “C&E”
(conductor and engineer) of Eng (engine) 28 atMF
(Merced Falls), to theC&E of Eng 29 at Ro (El Portal
whichwould be the El Portal Local), and to theC&E
of Eng 26 at Cd (Merced) for theMerced Local. The
TO reads:
“Eng28 runextraMercedFalls toMerced
Eng29 runextraEl Portal toMerced
Eng26 runextraMerced toEl Portalmeet Extra28at
Cement plant take sidingmeet Extra29west atDetwiler
Nos8and9of Aug4thhavearrivedanddepartedat
MossCanyon.”
The last note refers to theeastbound log train (No. 8)
which ran toMossCanyonand turned, becomingNo. 9.
Thisnotewas for informational purposes for the locals.
13
GettingReal Column - 9
MRH-Apr2014